To promote and ensure inclusion and diversity in the Elk Valley and South Country communities, Fernie Pride Society is pleased to have donated the third of their four Rainbow Benches to the City of Fernie.

Anne Keery, Fernie Pride Society President, acknowledges that, “The Fernie Rainbow Bench is more than a place to sit. It is a symbol of visibility and belonging for the 2SLGBTQ+ community, reminding us that everyone has a home here. This Bench celebrates diversity, offering a reminder that everyone deserves a safe place to simply be.”

The bench, in the colours of the Pride flag, is a visible sign for residents and visitors to Fernie that everyone belongs in Fernie and that the municipality promotes the values of equity and inclusion as being vital to the fabric of their town. The bench, located adjacent to the Splash Park at the Aquatic Centre, will be a permanent fixture that symbolizes the importance of acting on these values and finding opportunities to elevate the voices of the 2SLGBTQ+ and other marginalized communities.

City of Fernie Mayor Nic Milligan said, “The City of Fernie is proud and grateful to receive a Fernie Pride Society Rainbow Bench and to install it in a prominent location as a demonstration that our community values diversity and is a welcoming, inclusive, and safe place for everyone.”

In 2021, 319 respondents participated in Fernie Pride’s survey for the Elk Valley Community Capacity Project; 174 of whom reside in Fernie. Ninety-two, or almost 53% of Fernie’s participants, self-identified as members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community demonstrating that the community is diverse beyond the heteronormative.

Additionally in that survey, respondents noted that municipal support is critical in making Elk Valley communities places that people want to make their homes in and contribute to. Specific municipal items identified were education support, 2SLGBTQ+ awareness for the broader community, and the recognition of gender and sexual diversity through public installations such as rainbow benches, Pride flag raisings, and crosswalk painting.

Fernie Pride Society is encouraged to see that the City of Fernie is an enthusiastic adopter of these recommendations.

Fernie Pride Society would like to thank the Mayor, council, and staff of the City of Fernie for their dedicated efforts for diversity, equity, and inclusion and to extend our gratitude to the 2SLGBTQ+ residents and allies for their contributions and commitment to ensuring Fernie is a place of belonging for all.

Additional Rainbow Benches are slated to be installed in Elkford and Elko in the upcoming months.

Lead image: Fernie Pride Society President Anne Keery and City of Fernie Councillor Tracey Audia-Kelly at the newly installed Rainbow Bench at the Fernie Splash Park. Photo submitted

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